~ 2022 ~
"This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein."
Psalms 117:24
[Edited since posting.]
Holy Mother Church begins the new year honoring Our Lady as “Mother of God.” What could be more consoling or joyful? If she has this new year in her hands, what have we to fear? If we honor her this day, surely graces will come upon us and our families, even if hard times are ahead. Though it is not a holy day of obligation in the US, why would we want to miss this opportunity to flee to her at the outset of the year, showing our love for her and making reparation to her Immaculate Heart? And what a wonderful time to begin the Communion of Reparation 5 First Saturdays! January 1st also commemorates Our Lord’s first shedding of blood, his circumcision at 8 days old, in the old calendar. This is also the moment He received His Holy Name in the Temple, not to be confused with the Presentation, which was 40 days after birth. We are still in the Cycle of Christmas and remain joyful that a Savior has been given to us!
We celebrate 6 Doctors of the Church this month. On the 2nd, St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen share the day. They were actually friends and colleagues, along with Basil’s brother St. Gregory of Nyssa. The 3 are referred to as “The Three Cappadocians,” as they were all influential early theologians. Each month, I have been researching the best known works of the Doctors, along with how you can obtain them. This takes time to do the research and get you the best resources. I will continue to do so as time allows (which is not tonight), otherwise I will simply provide links to the Catholic Encyclopedia. Remember, it would take 35 years to read each of the Doctors, if you read one per year!
The 22nd is the 49th Anniversary of the US Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in all 50 states. Lord, have mercy. Many of you do not need this reminder, but if you have not been active in the pro-life movement, please pray on it and consider getting involved. All human rights are currently being eroded before our very eyes, which was predictable when the fundamental right to life was taken from the unborn. When you defend them, you defend our whole future!
Nomen Chisti Apostolate is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus and Our Lady of Fatima. “Nomen Christi” means “Name of Christ” in Latin. How can we honor His Name this month? There are many ways to do so….attending Mass on the feast, prayers and devotions and considering how we defend His Name when it is disrespected in our presence…please see The Second Commandment-What Does it Mean to Us?
The following is a partial listing of old and new feasts this month, for your consideration. Where “old” or “new” is indicated, it is the second occurring feast. Please consult your own calendars for more detail…
1/1-CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD / MARY HOLY MOTHER OF GOD / First Saturday
1/2-EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD / MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS / St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church / St. Gregory Nazianzen, Doctor of the Church
1/3-MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS (new)
1/4-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, First American Saint
1/5-St. John Neumann
1/6-EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD (trad) / Sts. Caspar, Balthasar & Melchior, the Three Magi (non-standard)
1/7-First Friday
1/9-BAPTISM OF OUR LORD / THE HOLY FAMILY
1/13-BAPTISM OF OUR LORD (trad) / St. Hilary of Poitiers, Doctor of the Church
1/14-St. Hilary of Poitiers (trad)
1/21-St. Agnes, Martyr, invoked in Canon
1/22-+++Anniversary of US Court Decision Roe vs. Wade, Day of Prayer for Unborn+++
1/24-St. Timothy, Disciple of St. Paul / St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church
1/25-Conversion of St. Paul
1/26-Sts. Timothy & Titus, Disciples of St. Paul / St. Polycarp, Martyr
1/27-St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church
1/28-St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church
1/29-St. Francis de Sales (trad)
1/31-St. John Bosco, Founder of the Salesian Society
Image from cornerstonepca.com